Untitled 1945

Barnett Newman made this untitled painting using watercolor, which is kind of interesting, because he's known for his huge color field paintings with those zips running down them. Here, we have these bands of color, almost like he's testing out different shades and textures. Look at how the watercolor seeps into the paper, creating these soft, blurred edges. It's like he's letting the paint do its thing, embracing the accidental. And then there are these strange, almost ghostly figures on the right, drawn with such a light touch. I'm reminded of Guston's late work with its awkwardness and vulnerability. It’s like both Newman and Guston are reminding us that art is not about perfection or control, but about the messy, unpredictable process of making. It's about embracing the "oops" moments and seeing where they take you.